The 80/20 Report

Web 2.0: Why Should You Care?

2008-08-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

This is almost old school now, but the whole Web 2.0 thing is still hanging around. Do you even know what I'm talking about? Otherwise known as Social Networking, it's a "new" way of doing business and building relationships through internet outlets such as MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn to name a few.

Of course, this way of communicating isn't exactly new. MySpace and Facebook have been around for nearly 5 years now. And way before they arrived, there were forums, chat rooms, and online community groups which allowed users to converse with one another, in a less organized fashion.

So have you embraced the power of Web 2.0 for your business or is this something you'll hope will be just a passing fad?

Let me tell you a quick story...I used to run the group exercise department at UC Berkeley. Back in the 90s, a fellow named Billy Blanks did an infomercial, selling VHS tapes of his exercise program called TaeBo. Remember it? The man made millions.

After a few years, the notion of group boxing and kickboxing classes began to trickle into aerobics studios and gyms. I didn't care much for those classes but I went ahead and got certified to teach it. Why? I knew it was going to be big and I couldn't let the fact that I personally disliked the format get in the way of doing business.

Sure enough, the trend hit in a BIG way and before I knew it, I was teaching classes of 100+ sorority sisters, faculty, and community members 3 times a week because there weren't a whole lot of other instructors trained to do the job.

Was it worth it? Heck, yeah. We had lines out the door every night and turned people away when the class was full at 120 people. Did the "fad" last? To my knowledge, those classes are still going strong, thankfully, without me.

So should you find out a little bit more about what "silly" things like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are all about?

What do you think?

If you're curious, look out for my new, free video, "How a Silly Thing Called Twitter Can Help You Get More Clients, Faster, For Less Money."

Hi-ya!

Are You Out of Touch?

2008-08-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

And how do you know unless you ask?

How well do you communicate with your current clients and with the folks you hope will be your future clients, otherwise known as your niche or target market? Many business owners make the fatal mistake of speaking to a select few within their sphere of influence and assume that everyone else has the same:

problems/concerns
needs/desires
fears/objections

And if you take it a step further and create services and products based on your assumptions, it's likely your next big launch will be met with the echoing sound of crickets.

The solution? Simply ask. Conduct a survey. Offer a gift if you must, to ramp up participation.

Here are 3 online tools, both for free and fee, that make creating and reading your surveys a snap:

Ask and watch the results of your next campaign double and even triple.

Big News at Jott.com

2008-08-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

I've blogged about this service before and heartily endorsed it. I also received a ton of positive feedback from readers, so I wanted to let you know that as of today, Jott is finally out of beta.

If you never heard of them, check out their services, which have vastly improved over the last year. If you already have a free account through their beta edition, Jott is offering a 26% discount if you sign up for a paid account and pay for a year upfront.

Rest assured that they do still offer a free option, but the features are limited.

Time to Say, "I Do"

2008-08-22T11:42:00.001-07:00

OK, I haven't blogged in a millenia but I've experienced many changes in the last few months...bought a new house, combined and moved 2 households together, got married. You know, the usual stuff.

(That's me with my new husband, Mark, on our wedding day, lucky 8/8/08.)

As a small business owner, can you identify with life getting in the way of your business?

Getting off track is one thing. Staying off track, quite another.

At some point you have to ask yourself, "Do I want to get back in the game?" If the answer is "I do!" then make a plan and get into action.

That said, I hereby renew my commitment to this blog and all the readers who have supported me over the years.

Stay tuned for lots of fun stuff, including free webinars and trainings and a name change for me at some point. Whoo-hoo!

All the best,

Kim

Do You Have Exit Mentality?

2007-10-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am fresh back from a rejuvenating vacation at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. That's me all bundled up to ward off the bitter cold, probably around 38 degrees. (We Californians are such weather wimps!)

We stayed at the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and were actually there for the closing day of the season. Although I'm not complaining about the service we received, I have to say, it was clear that nearly every single staff member we encountered suffered from a huge bout of Exit Mentality. And they weren't shy about it. We asked each employee how they felt about leaving for the winter and what their upcoming plans were until May when the lodge reopens. Their response could usually be boiled down to 3 words, "I am DONE."

Do you know that feeling? When you are just so over working with a difficult client who is getting ready to wrap up their current contract? Or you can't wait until your membership runs out with a particular networking groups or organization? We have all experienced this phenomenon at some point.

So what's the solution? Or is this truly a problem? How does this mentality affect you and your business? Does it impact your performance, ability to generate new business, or attitude? Only you can say for sure.

Or maybe you see evidence of this in your own team members or staff. How can you lovingly or curtly, depending on your personal style, call this to their attention and address it in a productive manner?

If you discover that you have momentarily checked out and are just going through the motions, make the time to recharge and get excited again about the vision for your business.

For the notes to a recent training I led at the Results Mastery Club on strategic planning and refining your vision, click here.

Free Traffic for Your Blog?

2007-10-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

This site bills itself as the "fastest and easiest way to instantly drive a flood of targeted readers to your blog…absolutely free." I dig the concept, but haven't yet taken it for a test drive.

Visit their site. Watch the video. Decide for yourself. Then come back and let us know if it deserves cheers or jeers.

What's Your Contingency Plan?

2007-10-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

This topic has popped up a lot lately...in conversations with my clients, in my coaching group, and most recently, this morning in my Business Network International (BNI) meeting. And let me tell you, it's surprising how few business owners have back-up plans in case of an emergency!

Do you safeguard against a computer crash or theft? I know a photographer who lost portrait photos that he had downloaded for his clients when his laptop was stolen out of his office in broad daylight. Lost forever. And a lot of explaining to do to an angry client.

What happens if you misplace your schedule or leave your cell phone at home?

What happens if the power goes out?

Can you still run your business?

Something to think about....Identify the worst case scenarios that can literally put you out of business, at least temporarily. And then design a plan to save the day.

Risk Management is something we'll be working on at the Results Mastery Club in the near future.

Find Hot Spots in a Flash

2007-10-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

I read this tip in Tim Ferriss' book, The Four-Hour Workweek. This little gadget from Golden Lantern, called a Wifinder, helps you locate wireless hot spots quickly and easily. It's a nifty little (small enough to fit on your key chain) tool if you do business on-the-go a lot and need to find a good signal fast for your PDA, laptop, or other wireless device.

And as of this writing, it's on sale. Sweet!

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-10-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

To all our friends in Canada who celebrate Thanksgiving Day today (and to everyone else as well):

“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”

--Kahlil Gibran

3 Stories From Steve Jobs

2007-10-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Apple has always been near and dear to my heart. Having learned how to do desktop publishing on a clunky MacIntosh computer back in the early 90s, I remain ever faithful to Apple technology.

Now Apple brings you closer to free education via iTunes U. Search for classes from major universities in a wide range of subjects from physics to philosophy. Their current top download is the immortal commencement address that Apple founder, Steve Jobs, gave at Stanfurd University (no that's not a typo...I went to arch rival Cal Berkeley) back in 1995. He tells 3 inspiring stories from his life including the upside of being publicly fired from Apple and his fight against cancer, finishing with the advice "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

You don't need an iPod to listen to any of these fantastic resources. Just download iTunes to either your Mac or PC computer. It's free. Once on iTunes, click on iTunes U on the left sidebar. Then you're free to learn to your heart's content.

Is Your Office a Pain in the Neck?

2007-10-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

If you sit and work on your computer for any length of time, you are vulnerable to the aches and pains of poor ergonomics. And because your health and well-being are the foundations of your business, it just makes good sense to invest a little time and effort into making your command center (i.e. your work station) as comfortable as possible. You can also increase your productivity and enhance your work quality of life.

Check out Office-Ergo.com and learn more than you ever wanted to know about workplace ergonomics. Don't let it overwhelm you. Visit pages like "Eyestrain Basics" and "Hand and Arm Basics" and you'll be good to go.

Quote of the Day--Responsibility

2007-10-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it."
--George Bernard Shaw

Question: what do you take responsibility for in your business and life and where do you routinely pass the buck?

Free Energy On-The-Go

2007-10-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Ever get caught out of the office, expecting an important call, and you realize that you forgot to charge your cell phone? Or is your kid driving you crazy because his Gameboy just ran out of juice and you have 2 more hours of road time left? What to do?

Check out this product, Solio, which is a portable, solar-powered "hybrid charger" that is compatible with most hand-held electronics once you have the appropriate adapter. Here is a list of benefits directly from their web site:

=> Provides an emergency power source when away from power outlets.
=> Adapter tips allow you to power multiple gadgets with a single charger (tips for most products included in pack.)
=> Works with multiple gadgets, including mobile phones, iPhone™, Bluetooth® headsets, smartphones/PDAs, MP3 players, portable gaming devices, digital cameras, GPS and much more.
=> Reusable - use it again and again.
=> Compact lightweight design - convenient for travel or emergency use.

Plus you can take advantage of a free, eco-friendly power source.

You can either power it up via the sun or use a standard wall outlet. And once you charge it up, it can store that energy for up to one year. The site says that a fully charged Solio Classic will charge most cell phones twice or provide enough juice to run your iPod for 10 hours. Sounds perfect for travel abroad or for anyone who has a habit of forgetting to recharge their toys.

I say, charge this puppy up and throw it in your glove compartment or briefcase and you'll never get caught powerless.

Say What?

2007-10-01T17:22:00.001-07:00

Quick and easy translation brought to you by those inventive folks at Google Translate. Type in a word or phrase, specify the languages you're going from and to, and with one click, you're good to go. Use this tool to:

Add a special touch on a note to a client who's bilingual.
Search for similar products or offerings in other countries.
Figure out what the heck your French speaking vendor means by "je ne sais pas ce qui"

Note that this program is still in beta form.

Also check out FreeTranslation.com for both paid and free services.

Update on Jott.com

2007-09-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

I first posted about Jott.com back in June 2007 and received a lot of positive feedback from readers and clients who test drove this free message/transcription service themselves.

Based on my own personal use, I heartily endorse it. I use it to send myself messages often when I'm driving or am in a place where I can't conveniently write stuff down. I have hesitated to use it to send messages to clients and colleagues, mostly because of the often "creative" interpretations of my messages by transcribers in India.

But I'm pleased to report that Jott has greatly enhanced their service. They now rate the level of "transcription confidence." And I noticed that the quality is much better. Plus you can always listen to a recording of your message, forward it to others, or set it as a reminder to be sent to either your email address or phone number. This is hands down the best new tool that I have incorporated into my business in 2007.

Does Your Marketing Match Your Message?

2007-09-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

"A meatball sundae is the unfortunate result of mixing two good ideas."

That's a quote from Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync? Chalk it up to Seth Godin to come up with another instantly usable business metaphor. This is the man who brought us the world of Purple Cows (turn something commonplace into the extraordinary) and the Big, Red Fez (not sure what that's about but I know it has something to do with web site design).

Just a head's up that, his latest book will arrive online and in stores on December 20, 2007. Just in time for a quick read while waiting at the airport during holiday travel season.

To get a sneak preview, visit Godin's Squidoo lens (don't worry if you don't know what that means!) devoted exclusively to this new project.

Staying Abreast of the Latest Color Trends

2007-09-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Did you know that it's officially Autumn? For some of us, the season crept in unannounced and for others, well, I think the word "blustery" was invented for Fall. If your business deals with color in any way, shape, or form, you can draw a lot of inspiration from nature's changing palette.

To help you decipher precisely which shade of orange, red, or yellow to use on your next project or the corresponding HEX# to use on a client's web site, visit ColourLovers.com. It's bursting with diverse color palettes, like the one shown above.

I particularly like the Colour Trends section, which lays out the current color schemes from major magazines. This can help, not only the interior decorator who wants to stay abreast of the latest trends, but also the solo business owner who considers a new look for a business card, invoice, or advertising campaign. Check it out.

The Greatest Success Characteristic

2007-09-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dan Kennedy is a marketing and advertising master who has been around since well before the dawn of the Internet. In fact, he continues to create extremely effective direct mail and print advertising campaigns that put most Internet marketers to shame.

I have subscribed to his No B.S. Marketing Newsletter and most recently, his free Successful Marketing Strategies Online Course. The latter is delivered in a series of emails with links to the course via web site. You can sign up by visiting his home page. Scroll down a bit and look for the sign up form on the right sidebar.

The last few lessons have spoken to Kennedy's belief that the greatest success characteristic is the ability to handle a crisis. He goes on to say, "Now I want to point out a related characteristic that is perhaps even more important which is you need to fine tune the ability to such a degree that the recovery takes place in the blink of an eye. You can't go somber and be in depression or irritation or frustration for a day or a week or a month or a year. It's like this and then you're on to the next productive thing and that's the characteristic of these highly successful people that we observe."

I have to tip my hat to Kennedy for saying it so frankly (definitely his signature approach).

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your ability to bounce back from a setback or failure? Do easily roll with and respond effectively to the unexpected in business? If you are less than a 10, (and I'm sure most of us would say so and the rest, perhaps aren't being honest), what would it take for you to advance at least 2 more levels in the next 48 hours?

Check Out Your International Competition

2007-09-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

If you ever want to look for resources outside of your native country and even your own native language, then you need to know about the Translated Search tool at Google Translate. You type in your key words, such as "hockey puck" and then specify that you want to search for web sites written in, say Korean or Arabic. Google Translate goes out, finds the web sites and then lists them for you in English, or whatever language you want. They even translate entire web sites for you.

Use this tool to get inspiration from around the world. Or, if for no other reason than to be entertained by the odd translations of Japanese into English.

To learn more about all that Google Translate has to offer, visit their FAQ sheet.

Warning, Will Robinson...Audio for Your Blog?

2007-09-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

OK, so the "near-human quality" voice of this service does not sounds exactly like the robot from "Lost In Space", but it still lacks a certain warm and fuzzy feeling.

What the heck am I talking, er, writing about? It's a service called Odiogo and it converts text to speech in mp3 files that can then be downloaded to a computer or iPod. This service is currently free and they seem to be trying to attract bloggers in particular to subscribe and offer the option of listening to blog posts directly on site or having readers subscribe to a podcast so that they can download the files and listen to them on the go.

Check out the blog, The Red Ferret Journal, as an example.

I think the concept is very cool, although I have yet to be organized enough to do the whole podcast thing by hooking up my iPod daily and then listening to the automatic feeds that I have selected. But I know there is a huge market of extremely tech savvy folks out there, including teens and college aged kids who might prefer listening to material vs. reading it. And of course, there are simply those people who learn and retain more information from listening to the spoken word.

Will I sign up and feature this on The Business Blog? Well, seeing as how the correct pronunciation of the service is "oh-dee-oh-go" and the mechanical, near-human voice pronounces it "ah-dee-oh-go", I'm a bit skeptical. The jury is still out. Let me know what you think.

10 Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs

2007-09-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

1. Barter
If you have a business, try bartering goods and services with other businesses. Try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require little or no money.

2. Network
Try networking your business with other businesses. You could trade leads or mailing lists. This will cut down on your marketing and advertising costs. You can also try bartering goods and services with them.

3. Wholesale/Bulk
You'll save money buying your business supplies in bulk quantities. You can get a membership at a wholesale warehouse or buy them through a mail order wholesaler.

4. Free Stuff
Try visiting the thousands of freebie sites on the internet before buying your business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, backgrounds, and online business services.

5. Borrow/Rent
Have you ever purchased business equipment you only needed for a small period of time? You can often borrow the equipment from someone else or rent the equipment from a "rent-all" store.

6. Online/Offline Auctions
You can find lower prices on business supplies and equipment at online and offline auctions. Maybe not every item all the time, but before you pay retail for these items try bidding on them first.

7. Plan Ahead
Make a list of business supplies or equipment you'll need in the future. Keep an eye out for stores that have big sales. Purchase the supplies when they go on sale before you need them.

8. Used Stuff
If your business equipment and supplies don't need to be new, buy them used. You can find used items at yard and garage sales, used stores, used stuff for sale message boards and newsgroups etc.

9. Negotiate
Get comfortable trying to negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or supplies. It doesn't hurt to ask.

10. Search
You can always search for new suppliers for your business supplies and equipment. Look for suppliers with lower prices and better quality. Don't assume that your current supplier has the best prices. And if you are happy with their service, tell them about a competitor that beat their price and ask if they will match it.

A Company that Does Less...Intentionally

2007-08-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

As mentioned late last week, I am a fan of numerous innovations designed by 37signals.com, a company that makes a point of saying upfront, "Over 1 million people and businesses use our web-based applications to get things done the simple way. We aim for the software sweet spot: elegant, thoughtful products that do just what you need and nothing you don't." Hallelujah.

Visit their site to explore all of the tools they offer. What's most appealing to me is the ease with which their programs connect people who can't be in the same location at all times.

If you are someone who cringes at the thought of working virtually or who feels communicating via phone and computer dehumanizes the process, I challenge you to think outside the box. Do you always need to conduct live meetings? Is that the most effective use of everyone's time? Have you tried virtual collaboration? Remember Mikey from the Life cereal commercial--the kid who hates everything? Try it. You just might like it.

Quote of the Day

2007-08-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

"I cannot give you a surefire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time."

--Herbert Bayard Swope, American editor and journalist and first recipient of the Pulitzer Prize

Purchase by Default

2007-08-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine ran an article in their August 27, 2007 issue (see cover at left) titled, Why We Buy. In it, the author, Barbara Kiviat, referenced a study in which people tasted peanut butter from three jars. "Each jar contained the same peanut butter, but 75% of participants thought the contents tasted better in the jar that had a name-brand label on it." Read the full article here.

Witness the power of branding. In this world, name recognition often trumps quality because going with what is perceived as more popular ultimately seems less risky.

Does your business need a brand? What do you do to promote name recognition? Think about brands that you know and love. Why do you continue to buy those products? Do you make a conscious decision to continue with that product or do you simply reach for what's familiar?

All quite thought provoking for a Monday.

Pre-Qualify Your Sales Prospects?

2007-08-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Ilise Benun of MarketingMixBlog.com wrote an interesting post about how to weed out the "tire-kickers"--folks who request a meeting with you or with whom you spend a lot of time only to reveal in the end that they either aren't serious about buying at this time or can't afford your services. D'oh!

She recommends having prospects fill out a brief form on your web site, answering several questions, one of which is about budget. Or have the same conversation upfront before setting up a meeting. If you are low tech or don't have a web site, you can always send the questions via email, which is a nice way of screening out anyone who is not really serious. If they can't bother replying to your message, how motivated are they to work with you?

Then again, this violates one of the primary rules of sales: make it easy for prospects to buy. Seems to me that it's a trade-off. You can either lose one commodity (time) to make an eventual sale or potentially lose another commodity (money) to save yourself some time. The question to answer then is which, time or money, is more precious to you at this moment?

Your thoughts?